Rocco Bellanova

Rocco Bellanova is a Research Professor in Law, Science, Technology & Society at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium. Previously, he held an Assistant Professor position in Critical Data Studies at the University of Amsterdam (2021–2022). His research focuses on European security politics, surveillance studies, data protection, and critical security studies. He has led or contributed to projects such as Ethical Dilemmas in Emerging Technologies and European Data Union, exploring topics like database interoperability, algorithmic governance, and security infrastructure. Bellanova is actively involved in academic conferences, peer-review panels, and public debates on digital sovereignty, privacy, and the socio-political impacts of technology. His work bridges international political sociology with technical systems analysis, examining how data infrastructures shape security policies and transnational governance.

Education details are not explicitly mentioned in the text, but his extensive research output and project leadership highlight a strong academic background in law, technology studies, and political science. Key collaborations include work with the European University Institute, ETH Zurich, and institutions in Norway and Germany. His recent activities include presenting at STS Italia 2025 and participating in the Privacy Law Scholars Conference (PLSC) - Europe 2025.

Bellanova’s research interests are reflected in over 69 publications and 61 academic activities since 2008, covering topics such as passenger data surveillance, algorithmic governance, and the political dimensions of digital technologies. He has advised on cybersecurity strategies and contributed to policy debates on data protection in EU frameworks.